Pumas guarantee second place of the Clausura 2026 after defeating Pachuca

PACHUCA, MEXICO - APRIL 25: Carlos Antuna of Pumas UNAM celebrates after scoring the first goal of his team during the 17th round match between Pachuca and Pumas UNAM as part of the Torneo Clausura 2026 Liga MX at Hidalgo Stadium on April 25, 2026 in Pachuca, Mexico. (Photo by Oscar Fuentes/Jam Media/Getty Images) | Getty Images Pumas ended their Clausura 2026 season on a high not as they defeated Pachuca by a 2-0 score in a match that temporarily got them in first place of Liga MX. It was a physical match with a lot of fouls and it ended in a scuffle but Pumas was able to prevail over a Pachuca side that went down early.

Pumas will now finish at worst in second place of Liga MX before going to the Liguilla, their best position in years. Pachuca will also go to the Liguilla but will now have some key suspended players to deal with in their Quarterfinals. The 1st half started with Pumas starting without Guillermo Martinez and Juninho.

Uriel Antuna would start up top with Robert Morales which meant that Pumas was going with a more defensive squad and relying on counterattacks. Meanwhile Pachuca would miss out on Enner Valencia, who was out because of suspension. From outside the area, Oussama Idrissi would get off a right footed shot that went wide.

Off a corner kick, Pachuca failed to clear the ball which allowed Pumas to get off a second cross that found a wide open Uriel Antuna, who headed the ball past Pachuca’s goalkeeper, Carlos Moreno, to give Pumas the early 1-0 lead. After a foul by Rodrigo Lopez, Brian Garcia would retaliate by straight up kicking him in his genitals, which earned the Pachuca player a straight red card. Down by a 1-0 score and with 10 players, Pachuca suddenly was in a very tough situation.